Private patients should be able to jump the queues on NHS waiting lists, according to the participants of one of the latest surveys. A poll of readers of ‘Health Insurance and Protection Magazine’ found that over three quarters of people believe that a person who has already got a referral from a private consultant should be able to join an NHS waiting list higher up than someone who hasn’t already had a referral on the NHS. It follows the high profile case of a woman with a back problem who had already received a private diagnosis, but was then told to have NHS treatment she must get another referral and join the back of the waiting list. Experts have now said that there should be more of a private sector involvement in the NHS to avoid some confusion and to allow people to have added peace of mind if they should so choose it. The top-up system has been one step to integrate some of this.


Other people have said that private patients, including private health insurance policy holders, should have the same rights as NHS patients if they decide to opt for the free healthcare in the end as they contribute as taxpayers as well. However, if patients are increasingly having similar problems with integrating back into the health service after seeking a private diagnosis, NHS top ups may seem like an attractive option. These mean that NHS treatments can be upgraded if the patient so wishes, but at an extra cost to them. Cash plan private medical insurance is ideal for this situation as it is one of the cheapest type of policies available and is perfect for supplementing the NHS.

Politicians across the UK have been launching their election manifestos this week ahead of the general election on May 6th. Unsurprisingly, the NHS has come to the forefront of debate so Freedom Healthnet is taking a look at each of the main party’s visions for the health care of the future and the likely impact of this on private medical insurance.


The Labour Party

Primary care trusts are one of the main priorities for the Labour Party’s plans for the NHS. They are already established in much of England, but Gordon Brown wants every hospital to become one by 2015. This has been extended to previous targets and would mean a further 93 hospitals would have more control over how they are run. Critics have said this is a risky move though and could cause problems for the running of the hospital while the management changes hands. If a hospital’s services are not running to the highest quality they can be during a period of time, it could mean that people are tempted to get a quote for private health insurance to ensure that they will always have access to the highest quality of care possible should they become ill.


Gordon Brown has also set out his commitment to greater access to out of hours GP care. People can currently see a doctor at evenings and weekends in at least one health centre in every area of England, or at least will be able to at a shortly opening clinic. Out of hours GP care has been problematic for the NHS since it was reformed in 2004 and most doctors opted out of working the longer hours in favour of a pay cut. Tragic cases where people have suffered as a result have since been publicised and could have been a reason for people to take out a private medical insurance policy and gain affordable access to private sector GPs.

Increasing numbers of people are taking out private medical insurance policies – and it’s all because they are worried about the quality and condition of NHS hospitals. A survey carried out by Bupa found that cleanliness of hospitals was a major contributing factor, with 73 percent of people stating it as their reason for taking out private health cover. That is an increase of eight percent on the same survey carried out the year before, despite the number of people actually contracting hospital acquired infections like MRSA falling in a similar period of time. Two of the other main reasons that people stated for taking out private health insurance was the thought that the quality of treatment would be better in a private healthcare centre (59 percent), as well as shorter waiting lists for care (61 percent).


Private health insurance has long been thought of as a luxury, but with the price of premiums now becoming very affordable, especially with cash plan private medical insurance, it is now something that everyone can have access to. With the UK heading into recession last year, some people may have predicted that the number of people with private health insurance would have dropped but despite this, figures actually rose. This means that people are now starting to see private health cover as an important priority to themselves and their families. Bupa’s commercial director, Stephen Flanagan, told Expatriate Healthcare: "It's good to see that more people are seeing the benefits that private medical insurance offers."

A new ground breaking treatment is being made available to patients for the first time, through private healthcare provider Bupa. The APOS treatment, which is designed for knee and lower back pain, can eliminate the need for prescription pain relief for seven out of 10 people. Around 22 million people suffer from back pain across the UK and another 13 million are knee pain sufferers and this treatment could make the lives of these people much more comfortable. A private medical insurance policy could give access to this pioneering treatment, along with many other new solutions to certain illnesses that are not yet available on the NHS. Paying for these treatments is one option but could be expensive so a small monthly premium through private health cover would be one affordable way of having access to the best healthcare facilities available without a substantial bill at the end of it.


The APOS treatment improves the function of the joints and thereby reduces pain by introducing a mild instability through the use of specially designed footwear. This encourages the retraining of the systems that stabilise the joints. It is a two step process, the wearing of the high-tech shoes followed by six months of assessment to see how the patient’s walking pattern changes. The intensity of knee pain can be reduced by around 2 thirds after 8 weeks of the treatment and 86 percent of people would recommend it to someone else. For the millions of people that experience back and knee pain in the UK, this is certainly something that they will want to consider to try and reduce the suffering they often encounter every day, making their jobs and normal activities difficult in some situations. Some people may consider a quote for private medical insurance to make this possible.

The bigger the better – the well-known phrase that many of us live by, either consciously or subconsciously when making decisions every day of our lives whether that’s choosing between the 8oz or 16oz steak or which level of private medical cover to opt for. Before the recession took hold last year, people may have decided that a fully comprehensive policy was best for them with every possible situation covered. But since then, people have begun to opt out of certain aspects of their policy such as extra alternative therapies or physiotherapy, especially as premiums have begun to rise. But Stuart Scullion, spokesman for The Private Health Partnership told Health Insurance and Protection Magazine that the public’s attitude has changed to prefer cheaper, more flexible policies. ““Most consumers automatically initially think that they want a comprehensive full refund inpatient and outpatient contract but when you delve a bit deeper they quite often prefer budget policies.”

Freedom Healthnet has always offered private medical insurance policies at an extremely competitive price, with opt-outs on all levels of policies. This is something that some insurers are only just beginning to introduce as they realise that their customers are looking to cut costs in all areas of their finances, including their private health insurance. Hospital lists are one way in which costs can be cut by many health insurance providers but Freedom Healthnet has no selective lists on any of its policies. This means that no matter how much their customers pay each month, they will still have access to the same number of treatment centres across the UK. This increases the chance that a person will be able to be cared for in a place and time that is most convenient to them.

The NHS can expect to have a shortfall of £15 billion over the space of five years according to the NHS confederation. The shortfall is likely to come following 2011 when the era of big spending will come to a sudden end. The problem has arisen from the culmination of a number of factors, including the recession, lower increases in budgets as well as rising costs. Top health service managers have warned this week in a report at the annual NHS confederation conference in Liverpool that action needs to be taken now to prevent bosses having to make major cuts when the shortfall comes into effect. Steve Barnett, the confederation's Chief Executive told The Telegraph, "Shortages in funding will translate to the kind of across the board cuts which could see waiting lists lengthen, standards fall and dissatisfaction with the service grow among patients and staff." This could cause even greater worry for those people who feel they need extra peace of mind by purchasing a private medical insurance policy.


The report, 'Dealing with the downturn: the NHS's greatest ever leadership challenge' said that if extra money isn't put into the NHS in the year 2011/2012, it may not be able to continue being free at the point of service. If this happens, people may have to take out private medical insurance to help cover the added costs. A cash plan private medical insurance policy like those offered by Freedom may be ideal because they already allow their customers to use the cash lump sum they recieve to subsidise the cost of NHS treatment. Even if costs aren't put in for the NHS, which the government will work very hard to avoid, quality of treatment may suffer if bosses like Steve Barnett's fears are confirmed. People who would like to be treated in a clinic where quality is guaranteed may like to take out a quote for private medical insurance to allow them access to private hospitals who are not affected by budget cuts in such a way as the NHS.

The government has lost millions of pounds in using private consultants to give advice to primary care trusts. The idea was aimed to save the NHS money but in fact it has cost the health service over £21 million. The figures have been released this week through Department of Health documents and just prove that the Government’s Framework for Procuring External Support for Commissioners (FESC) initiative has not achieved its goal to make efficient savings. Health publication ‘Pulse’ found that spending on private consultants had tripled over the past two years since it was launched, costing a total of £39.4 million but only bringing in £17.5 million worth of savings. This is money that could have been spent in another department of the NHS for example on buying new equipment. Dr Jonathan Fielden, chair of the BMA’s consultants committee told Pulse, “This is hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money yet to be shown to have benefited patient care.” Despite this, the Department of Health still insists that 'tangible benefits' are being given.


Many people who turn to private medical insurance as an alternative to the NHS say that they do so because of the better access to high quality and brand new technologies available in private health care centres. The NHS is limited in providing access to these new innovative technologies because of its budget and government schemes like this one to encourage the use of private consultants where targets often get in the way. Private health insurance policies allow patients to use these top of the range facilities where they are not restricted by a budget in the same way. Being treated by the latest healthcare equipment and medicines could reduce recovery time and get patients back to full health in the shortest period possible which is inevitably a priority for most people when they undergo an operation or fall ill.

The NHS celebrated its 60th birthday last year and has long been celebrated as a successful healthcare system, widely respected by other countries across the world, especially those that can’t or don’t provide free healthcare to their people. So why should people in the UK consider private health insurance then? The fact is that 7 million people in the UK are now covered by some level of private medical insurance, may be caused by the fact that the NHS sometimes struggles to meet with demand particularly because of increased pressure from government targets. The answer for many people is to turn to the alternative.


Private health insurance allows its customers to have access to hospitals with a lower rate of superbugs like MRSA, and have facilities with the latest technology that some NHS hospitals cannot afford to provide. But they have their limitations in that emergency treatment is something they don’t have facilities for and this is where the NHS has a strong position. The ideal situation is for private medical insurance to supplement the work of the NHS which is where cash plan private medical insurance is the perfect option. It gives policy holders the option as to whether they would like to be treated in a NHS or private hospital, or even if they would like to travel abroad for their healthcare. The money they receive to help towards the cost of the treatment can then be used for travel expenses or to cover the cost of time lost off work if the patient chooses to be treated in an NHS hospital.

Private medical insurance is one of the hardest things to cut back on during the recession. That’s according to the director of Bupa UK Health Insurance. Fiona Harris told the Yorkshire Post that people find it the most difficult to cut back on their private health cover, even over other items such as holidays, eating out and pensions and long term savings. This may be because they don’t want to lose the peace of mind that comes with a private health insurance policy, knowing that top quality healthcare is available as and when they need it. Poor health is not something that can be predicted, particularly as a result of an accident so a lot of people are reassured by this.


Money is tight for most people at the minute and everyone is cutting back in some way or another. Private medical insurance is long thought of as a luxury, and this is the obvious area to re-prioritise for the majority of people, but these figures just prove that private health cover is no longer considered a luxury item. Cash plan medical insurance has gone a long way to change this stigma, reducing monthly premiums significantly. People may wish to consider swapping to a cash plan private medical insurance policy. In doing so, costs can be greatly reduced but the peace of mind that is associated with a traditional private health insurance policy can be kept intact. Additionally, cash plan private medical insurance gives the patient the freedom to choose whether they wish to be treated in a private hospital or an NHS clinic, thereby using the money that would have been used to pay for private treatment to be used to cover other costs incurred by the illness, such as travel.

The number of people covered by a private medical insurance policy in 2008 increased by 2.7 percent from the previous year, despite the UK heading into the recession. That means that the total number of people now covered by either a personal or corporate policy is now 7,335,000 according to the figures released by the Association of British Insurers. Nick Starling from the organisation told moneyhighstreet.com, “The continued rise in the number of people covered by PMI is good news. PMI gives people the peace of mind that they are able to get access to the treatment they need, at the time they need it, where they need it.”


The recession has meant that many people have had to cut back on the luxury items and activities that they once enjoyed before they may have lost their job, been laid off or had their hours cut down for example. Private medical insurance has long been thought of as a luxury and for some this may seem like an option to cut back on. But with cash plan private medical insurance, health cover is no longer the luxury that it used to be as it is now more affordable for the majority of people with premiums starting as little as £10.88 per month. Health is an area that many people consider a high priority and cutting back on healthcare is something that people don’t wish to do, and still want to have the option to be treated in a short space of time in a place that is convenient to them and where they are sure they can expect to receive top quality treatment that can come as a result of private medical insurance. These people might want to get a quote for cash plan private medical insurance to see how much money they can save and consider switching rather than cancelling altogether. These latest figures show that people are not looking to cancel anytime soon.

A quote for private medical insurance is based on many factors including age, occupation and area of residence. Some people will undoubtedly end up with a higher bill for private medical cover than others. In a time when income is being spread further than it has been in the past decade, most people will be looking for ways in which they can save – and their private medical insurance policy is one of them. By making a few simple lifestyle changes however, a person could put themselves in a significantly lower risk category than someone else. Here are just three ways in which this can be done:

The healthier you are, the less you pay. You may have been a smoker all your life, but it is never too late to change. Simply by taking a second look at your diet and participating in exercise – even something as easy as walking further than you usually would – can make a big difference to your general well-being. The private medical insurance provider will undoubtedly have to pay out for more health care treatments for someone who has a lower standard of health so this is reflected in the insurance quote.

A less hazardous occupation can reduce the cost of your private health insurance policy. There are dangers in every walk of life, but some workplaces expose their employees to more risky situations than others. Some areas of the country also mean people more likely to be susceptible to a certain condition than others – for example heart disease is known to be more prevalent in areas of the North and Scotland. You do not necessarily have to change your job or move house – but this is something to consider when you are enquiring into private health insurance.

A good credit rating can also save you money on your medical insurance premiums. This factor is becoming increasingly relevant across more areas than before, as your ability to pay also affects health insurance companies, as well as other institutions like mortgage providers. A customer with an excellent credit history will obviously be more attractive and will benefit from a reduction in price.

In the second part of Freedom’s look at 2009, we continue to look at some more of the exciting prospects and challenges for the healthcare industry in the coming year.

Genetic testing has been emerging more and more over the past decade, with the possibility of it being used in every day diagnosis becoming increasingly likely. It has not come without controversy, and ethical issues have meant that the introduction of new methods of testing has been slow and careful. But for the first time, it looks like the market for genetic testing may take off, as costs have dropped significantly, making them much more widely available particularly to those people with private medical insurance. These developments mean that people can get their entire DNA mapped out, so that genetic diseases such as Alzheimer’s can be identified on a person’s genome. Personalised medicine is something that is also in the pipeline for the coming year, meaning that side effects from drugs are much less likely. However these will be expensive, and people may get a quote for private medical insurance to allow them access to these treatments.

Technology is likely to be a big factor in the way that patients experience healthcare in 2009. The increased use of the internet, in particular social networking sites has allowed patients to interact with each other. Patient forums such as patientslikeme.com are also becoming more and more popular meaning that the way people receive medical information is changing. Blogs, like this one offered by Freedom, are also providing an alternative source of information. 

A new disease classification index known as ICD-10 will be introduced in 2009. ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) is a way of coding many different healthcare problems such as diseases, symptoms, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases as defined by the World Health Organization. This will have two impacts. Firstly, it will be a costly transition for health institutions that some with limited funds (like the NHS) may struggle with, meaning that private health care companies may come out on top. However, it will allow the tracking of new procedures and diagnoses so that there may be a better standard of healthcare and treatments available for those with private medical insurance and NHS patients alike. 

Private health insurance has traditionally been seen as a luxury, particularly for those with a lower income. The introduction of cash plan medical insurance policies made the privilege available to a large number of people who couldn’t afford access to convenient and high quality healthcare in previous years. But with money becoming tight for everyone and sacrifices being made, there was speculation about whether private medical insurance might no longer be seen as a priority. This doesn’t appear to have happened though, with people preferring to find ways of saving money on their private health insurance policy, rather than cancelling it altogether.

There are many ways in which people can cut costs on their private medical insurance – firstly by switching to a cash plan provider like Freedom Healthnet. This type of policy offers a much more competitive rate than traditional levels of cover and yet still has many benefits to offer, including the choice as to whether a person would like to receive their treatment in a private health clinic, in a healthcare centre abroad, or whether they would prefer to get help towards any costs incurred as a result of NHS treatment. 

Mike Dalby, director of Health-on-Line says, “We are seeing evidence that health insurance customers are taking a longer term view on their private medical insurance and now consider it a necessity when it comes to protecting the welfare of their families." People have been put off completely ending their policies for a number of reasons. Firstly, someone could lose cover for a medical condition that has developed in the time they have had a private medical insurance policy. They could also lose money in the long term by no longer being subject to their no claims discount which may have built up over many years. Overall, it could make better sense to keep up a health policy, but to look for providers who offer great value.

One size fits all rarely works in practice. Things that benefit one person do not always have the same advantages for someone else. With some private medical insurance policies, because of the way that they are structured, people can occasionally end up paying extra premiums to have access to one particular benefit, when other benefits offered on that higher level of cover are not needed, irrelevant and a waste of money. Freedom Healthnet, like other health insurers such as Norwich Union and Health Online, allows you to tailor your private medical insurance policy to suit your needs.

Freedom Healthnet allows its customers to choose whether they would like inpatient only cover, both inpatient and outpatient or fully comprehensive cover. Inpatient care includes accommodation charges, drugs and dressings, theatre charges, specialists’ fees, diagnostic tests, oncology treatments, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy as well as MRI and CT scans. Outpatient treatments are then optional and customers can choose whether to include them in their policy or not. These treatments include specialist consultation and treatment fees, x-rays, pathology, diagnostic tests and procedures, MRI and CT scans, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and physiotherapy. By giving customers the option as to whether they would like to be covered for outpatient care or not, Freedom Healthnet allows people to make savings on their private health insurance quote if these services are not needed.

It is also possible to personalise your policy even further, when deciding on which level of cover you would like. An essential insurance policy such as Freedom Gold Health Insurance may be suitable for someone wishing to top up their NHS treatment with the new rules on supplementing the cost of drugs for example, by paying for up to £30,000 worth of inpatient care. However, someone who is looking for a policy that gives them more peace of mind by covering nearly every eventuality may prefer a fully comprehensive policy which covers unlimited amounts of both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Despite much improvement recently in cleaning up Britain’s hospitals, only five out of fifty one acute health trusts passed a hygiene spot check by the country’s health watchdog. The Healthcare Commission undertook the inspections as part of one of the biggest investigations into cleanliness standards in recent years, and found that the majority were not meeting the required standards for NHS institutions set in the government’s Health Act in 2006. 

The Act was designed to improve the conditions which had led to a large number of superbug outbreaks such as Clostridium Difficile and MRSA, but it seems that while significant changes have been made, and most of the complaints are for minor breaches of the guidelines, many NHS trusts could still do a lot more to improve their services. More NHS patients may decide to get a quote for private medical insurance, especially as improvements don’t seem to have been as effective as first thought. It may seem a more reassuring option for some people to take advantage of a private health insurance policy, and gain access to top quality private hospitals, which are renowned for their low rate of superbugs and high levels of standards. 

Overall, the Healthcare Commission found that around 29% of all NHS Trusts across England hadn’t met one of the three main objectives of the hygiene code. But it is particularly worrying, especially for patients, that such a high number of acute clinics should be failing to keep clean in all aspects and areas. Acute clinics offer a wide range of services, including specialist care, emergency treatment and complex and lifesaving surgery, at a time when cleanliness could be more vital than ever. More peace of mind for patients is needed, and they may find themselves turning to private medical insurance to provide this psychological reassurance. Liberal Democrat Health spokesman Norman Lamb told the BBC, "Considering the horrifying death toll from superbugs, it is very disturbing that adequate systems are still not in place in very many of our acute hospitals." 

Cash plan private medical insurance policies have a reputation for being the most competitive in the market. Freedom’s policies in particular, can be, on average, half the price of similar levels of cover offered by its rivals in the health insurance market. But have you ever wondered how it is possible to offer such a good level of cover, with benefits starting from £30,000 worth of treatment on the most basic of policies, for significantly less than other health insurance companies?

Freedom maintains its low premiums by paying cash directly to you instead of the hospital. If you can go to a private healthcare centre with a cash lump sum they will more often than not offer the treatment at a lower price than they would to someone who has a traditional private medical insurance policy where the company pays directly to the hospital for the cost of the healthcare. This allows Freedom to pass on the savings to you as customers with much lower monthly premiums.

Freedom as a company has not spent as much on marketing and advertising as its counterparts in the private health insurance market. Television advertising can be very costly to a company and Freedom has decided to stick with more cost effective forms of marketing like print advertising to allow it to pass on the savings again to its customers. Some people might argue that Freedom is not as well known as, for example, BUPA for this reason, but Freedom's customers can be satisfied by the fact that they have a robust private medical insurance policy, but for sufficiently less money.

When taking out any sort of insurance policy – whether it is for your car or private health cover – it is always best to shop around to find the best deal for you, especially as money has become increasingly tight. The easiest way to do this is by taking out an online quote with a personalised quote coming back to you in a very short amount of time. You could potentially halve the amount you pay for a private health insurance policy, even just by looking at a different type of health insurance.

Cash plan health insurance policies are different to traditional private health cover plans because they pay you a cash lump sum, rather than paying directly to a health care clinic for the cost of your treatment. This not only allows you to have access to top quality hospitals with short waiting lists and the best facilities in the country, but also gives you the option to stay on the NHS if you wish and use the money to help with the costs incurred as a result of your illness. This is becoming increasingly important as many people are struggling to continue paying their hefty bills when they are forced to take time off work.

Cash plan insurance policies like those offered by Freedom are on average the most competitive in price. They can be half the price of the rest of the policies offered in the private health insurance market. So not only can you take advantage of the exclusive benefits of this unique health insurance policy, but you can save money at the same time, giving you more to spend elsewhere.

Private medical insurance has long been perceived by many to be a luxury. With much of the UK’s population cutting back on ‘wants’ and concentrating on their ‘needs’, private health cover could be made less of a priority, but this doesn’t have to be the case. There are a few ways in which you can save money on a quote for health insurance.


First, you should make sure that you have chosen the level of cover that is most relevant to you and your family’s lifestyle. There is no point paying for a policy which has a maximum level of benefits to offer like Freedom’s Diamond Plus Comprehensive cover, when you may not be taking full advantage of it. When money is tight, a more basic policy such as Freedom Gold Medical Insurance could still provide you with the peace of mind that a more extensive level of cover with another insurer could provide, but at a fraction of the cost.*


There are other options, if you would still like to enjoy the wide range of treatments that can be made available from a good private health insurance policy. By increasing your initial excess fee you will also be able to lower your premiums. Sometimes your quote will be decreased with a no claims discount, if you haven’t claimed on your policy as of yet . If you decide to take up a healthy lifestyle, by giving up smoking for example, this can also make a difference, as well other options, such as narrowing the hospital choice open to you, and also, electing for a longer waiting time.

*Get an instant online quote and call 0800 999 2013 for comparison quotes with other providers, quoting BLOG as reference.

It is very important that you should think carefully about how to get a private medical insurance policy that suits your needs. If the time comes when you need to make a claim, you do not want to find that you are not covered for a particular type of treatment. When enquiring into a quote for private health insurance there are many questions that you should ask yourself. Here are just a few:

Am I required to undergo any health checks?

This depends on which type of underwriting you choose for your policy. If you opt for moratorium underwriting you will not have to take any tests or give any information, but for two years you won’t be covered for the treatment of any type of condition that you have had medication, advice, treatment or have experienced symptoms for, whether or not the condition has been diagnosed in the last five years. You will have to fill out a full medical questionnaire however, if you choose full medical underwriting.
Will I have to contribute anything towards the cost of my health care?

You will have to pay a £100 excess on every claim you make with Freedom Healthnet. However, if you decide to increase this cost then you could save up to a quarter off your premiums. With fully comprehensive policies such as Diamond Plus, you will be entitled to unlimited in-patient and out-patient care so you should not have to pay anything else, but you may have to pay a little bit extra if your treatment goes over the limits of your benefits.

Are dental and alternative therapies covered?

Freedom Healthnet does not contribute towards the cost of any dental treatment, but it does embrace the popularity of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, with the possibility for Diamond Plus customers to add this on to their policies. Other options include psychiatric care and rehabilitation treatments like home nursing and specialist second opinions which are not always covered by other health insurers.

Behind the Scenes – How Your Risk is Calculated

Quotes for private health insurance are so easy and simple to get these days. Fill in a quick form on the internet and a figure is sent back to you almost instantly. But have you ever wondered how private medical insurance companies arrive at a certain sum?

How much you pay for private health cover depends on risk factors. These obviously vary from person to person and result in a very personalised quote for every individual. Age is the main variant which affects the cost of your private health insurance policy. When a person is younger they are less likely to suffer from serious illnesses or need time in hospital for a procedure like a hip replacement, meaning that their premiums are much lower. This is the best time to take out medical insurance, because not only will you be paying less, but there is also the possibility that having had access to the sort of provision of care that creates more peace of mind, and that often has shorter waiting lists and more choice, may have reduced some of the risks you could otherwise have been exposed to.

Age is not the only risk factor. Your quote will also be based upon gender, occupational status and whether or not you smoke. Men and women differ in the types of conditions they are prone to and this is reflected in the price of your policy. Some areas of work are also more likely to cause injury than others, for example, manual labour occupations would pose more of a danger than a secretarial position. The area of the UK in which you live can also provide variance on your health insurance quote because of issues such as the size of the local population, the waiting times at your nearby NHS facilities, the ratio of people to NHS services and the cost of private healthcare in your area.

Many GPs are not meeting their waiting time targets, according to an NHS watchdog. In its recent report, the Healthcare Commission found that over two thirds of all practices could not offer an appointment within 48 hours – the guideline that was set as part of new contracts for doctors in 2004. In the previous year, eight out of ten surgeries met the target. Primary care trusts across the country have now been instructed to launch a review in their areas to avoid losing their patients to private medical insurance.

Despite claims from both the government and doctors that the information was misleading as it was based on patient surveys as well as anonymous calls to surgeries, Gary Needle from the Healthcare Commission told the BBC, “If it was only a 10% difference then you might say patients were not understanding the exact question put to them, but you can't explain away this scale of difference in that way. Patients are not getting sufficient access."

Health insurance policies allow patients to use world class private facilities, where waiting times are not an issue. It is a priority for many people to be able to have access to a doctor when they need it, not when an appointment is available. The problem may be irrelevant by the time they get to see a GP, and many people will be put off going altogether, possibly making the illness worse in the long run. With early detection of many conditions vital to a person's recovery, it is likely that these statistics will encourage people to get a quote for private medical insurance where they will be seen and treated efficiently, and in a place and time convenient to them.

In the UK, the government is working hard to try to reduce the number of Road Traffic Accidents that occur each year. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics show that there were around 247,780 accidents in 2007, 4 per cent fewer than in 2006. ‘Looked but failed to see’ (LBFTS) accidents contribute to around 35 per cent of all reported accidents, and four out of the five most frequently reported factors involve driver or rider error or reaction. Younger and older drivers are most likely to be involved in accidents than drivers aged 25-69. Younger male drivers are more likely to have factors related to speed and behaviour, whereas older drivers are more likely to have factors related to vision and judgement. There is much psychological and perceptual research taking place that aims to reduce these sorts of incidents, but the fact remains that when they do take place, having private health insurance cover can really help to smooth the way to recovery.

Accident and emergency treatment via the NHS will almost certainly return you to a good level of health, but with access to private health care, waiting lists can be avoided for treatment, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture are available if required. Private medical insurance could also cover costs incurred by staying in an NHS hospital, for example, if parents are forced into an overnight stay if their child becomes ill. This is a common feature of cash plan health insurance, whereby customers have the option as to whether they would like to receive their treatment in an NHS hospital, private clinic or a centre overseas. Policy holders may also have access to telephone helplines to give advice to road traffic accident victims after their traumatic experience.

Cancer patients in Ireland have resorted to taking out loans to help with costs incurred as a result of illness, a new study has shown. The research, carried out by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, found that sufferers were having to pay for childcare, domestic help and wigs, as well as routine household bills and transport costs, which became a struggle with the lack of a regular wage during recovery. Getting to and from clinics was also likely to become even more of a burden, as cancer treatments in the country are being transferred to just eight clinics. Some of the twenty-one patients that participated in the investigation had even reported eating into savings and being left asking friends and family to help out with added costs.

There are many aspects of being ill that can put pressure on people. Anything from the common cold to more serious bouts of illness can cause someone to take time off from work. Private health insurance could help patients by making it easier to access health care more quickly than on the NHS, with its long waiting lists, and by enabling patients to choose where they receive treatment. Cash plans mean that patients can choose to get treatment privately, or alternatively use the money to help with childcare costs for example, and wait for NHS treatment.

Over 100,000 operations have been cancelled in the past year by the National Health Service, nearly double the number initially reported by the government. The Department of Health stated that 57,000 patients had to have their procedures rescheduled but this only includes those that were informed with less than 24 hours' notice. Many people even suffered from more than one cancellation. It is no wonder then that the number of people taking out a cash plan private medical insurance policy rose by at least three per cent in last year, meaning the total number of people benefitting from health cover reached almost three million in the UK.

Operation cancellations can be deeply troubling for patients, particularly those who are nervously anticipating their stay in hospital. Mark Martin from Health On-Line said, "Often these procedures are of a major or complex nature and one cancellation, let alone multiple cancellations, only adds to the anxieties and stress experienced by the patient and their family. Private medical insurance can go some way towards alleviating these stresses by allowing the patient to choose when and where their procedure is undertaken." Cash plan private medical insurance policies like those from Freedom Healthnet do just this.

Among the many choices available to you are: a private clinic that is in a suitable location, whether it is close to home, or further away, if you don’t mind a longer journey. If you would like to travel out of the country, you can also opt to receive your treatment abroad, or if you want to visit your local NHS hospital, your private medical insurance policy can supplement any costs incurred. Either way, you can avoid long waiting lists and have your operation without the fear that it will be cancelled.

The amount of British pets covered by a private health insurance policy is nearly double that of their owners. According to a new study by Tesco Finance, 23 per cent of domestic animals in the UK have health cover in comparison to only 12.2 per cent of their human counterparts. It is well known that Britain is a nation of animal lovers, and there are many benefits of having an insurance policy that protects our furry friends. Ewan Mc Neil, former president of the society of practicing veterinary surgeons told yourmoneyhaven.com, “I'm not surprised that pet insurance is becoming so popular - people will do everything they can to ensure the best for their pets.” But despite this, should we be looking after number one?

With the credit crunch, money is much tighter and a decision may have to be made as to whether it’s yourself or the dog that gets the private health cover. It is true that vet bills can be an unnecessary and costly expense for pet owners, however having access to top quality health care for yourself could end up being ruled out if your animal wins the battle for the health insurance policy. Patients may be subject to long NHS waiting lists and a limited choice of facilities and appointment times because they cannot afford the fees for private treatment, but this could easily be avoided with the small cost of a cash plan private health insurance policy like those offered by Freedom Healthnet. If a dilemma arises, pet owners may have to consider the cost of a vet bill in comparison to private health care for themselves.

Private health insurance has come third in a recent questionnaire of the most popular benefits provided for employees. Over two thirds of the 277 organisations that took part in the survey by ‘Employment Today’ now provide health cover for their 1.35 million workers. There are many benefits to health insurance policies for a workplace, in particular, losing less hours to sickness. By having access to immediate and high quality healthcare, a workforce will have a better general health and will be able to get the treatment they need to get them back into action when they fall ill.

Paid time off for dental and medical appointments topped the results of the investigation into the most common benefits, with over 80 percent of businesses providing the service. Seventy percent of employers also supply childcare support, either through th provision of vouchers or an through an allowance. Some of the least popular options were financial help for car parking fees and the congestion charge in the capital.

In a survey carried out by BUPA in March this year, 98 percent of businesses agreed that an important part of their role as an employer was to support the health of their workers. Cash plan private medical insurance policies can provide more relevant and employee focused benefits than other types of private health cover. Employers can cover their routine health responsibilities like sight testing and stress counselling while reaping other benefits from the policy, for example by attracting higher calibre staff and increased choice of facilities. Simon Bailey, head of marketing for employee benefits at Aegon, told Professional Broking, "Employers offering flexible benefits packages see a much higher level of employee satisfaction."

Freedom Healthnet appoints Sagicor and Gen Re as new health insurance policy reinsurers.

The Freedom Healthnet health insurance policies are now underwritten by Gen Re (a Berkshire Hathaway division) and Sagicor through Alpha Insurance. Gen Re is one of the largest reinsurers worldwide and receives the highest financial strength ratings possible of A++ by A.M. Best. As one of the leading life/health and property/casualty reinsurers in the world, Gen Re is represented globally in key reinsurance markets.

Sagicor is a regional financial services company established in 1840 and one of the oldest insurers in the Americas. With total group assets standing at US$3.4 billion, it is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

“We are delighted to be reinsured by such big names in the industry” says Chief Executive Officer Nahid Salehi. “I am very excited to be working with Gen Re and Sagicor to continue to expand the Freedom Healthnet portfolio, offering health and medical insurance products of a high standard at competitive prices. We are also looking forward to enhancing our product range to attract a widening customer base. I believe this move is very exciting for Freedom Healthnet, our clients, our brokers and our staff.”

For further information contact:

Robert Smith
Freedom Healthnet Ltd
Bourne Gate
25 Bourne Valley Road
Poole
Dorset
BH12 1DY
Tel: 08703 50 40 30
Email: r.smith@freedomhealthnet.com

www.freedomhealthnet.com

Under new government plans announced by The Department of Health last week, NHS hospitals will soon be allowed to produce advertisements promoting their services and may make deals with sponsors. MP’s hope the move will raise standards of care through an increase in competition; however concerns have been raised about the effects of commercialising the NHS. Bob Ricketts is the director of system management and new enterprise at the Department of Health. He told the Times, “The NHS brand is very powerful and we are not going to let any commercial activity damage that.” The move will therefore be subject to many conditions limiting the type of sponsorship the NHS can undertake, for example companies linked to gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weight control or with political interests will be banned. Advertising campaigns which may promote facts such as low MRSA rates will not be allowed to compare to other hospitals.
Plans for ‘polyclinics’ which can cater for populations of up to 50,000 have recently been favoured by ministers, but lacking NHS funds mean that the government is increasingly looking to move towards privatising healthcare to improve the system. Ultimately, what this means for private health insurance customers is that an increasing number of health care facilities will give the option of private treatments, so people will have more choice and freedom of where to have their treatment. Health insurance policies such as cash plan policies already give the option of whether to choose an NHS or a private hospital to receive medical care, so this move will ultimately heighten this choice.

In recent years, the NHS has increasingly been turning to private facilities to treat its patients in an attempt to cut long waiting lists, but it seems that the Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTC’s) will now also be available to those patients with private health insurance. In fact, some private policy holders have already been using such facilities and taking advantage of some of the benefits they can offer, such as being in a convenient location as well as providing quick treatments for specific problems, access to brand new purpose-built facilities and are both friendly and personalised.

Some ITSC’s are only offering their care and equipment to NHS patients, but others like Ramsay Healthcare, which has just built eight new healthcare centres, are offering their services to private health insurance customers. The range of treatments that a private patient could receive at an ITSC like Ramsay’s is wide. Many routine surgical operations such as varicose vein treatments, hernia repairs and colonoscopies are available, along with cosmetic procedures and access to MRI and CT scanning equipment.

The Department of Health, while recognising the priority for NHS patients, has also welcomed the increased choice for private patients, saying that the new treatment centres could be available to all “should the local agreements and the capacity be available”. It is hoped that not only will ITSC’s widen the choice for people with private health insurance, with cash plan policies already giving the option of supplementing NHS care, but The Confederation of British Industries believes that the integration of private companies with the National Health Service “encourages innovation and increases efficiency more widely”. The government have also this month given the go-ahead to three more ITSC’s in Greater Manchester, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and are expected to give a decision on further proposals of schemes in Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire in November this year.

Many people with a private health insurance policy, or who take advantage of employee medical cover, decide to have a general health assessment at one of the country’s private medical centres. Despite claims published in a report ‘Making Sense of Testing’ by the charity Sense about Science, that such routine testing can make people more anxious about their health, 97% of people feel more reassured after the tests. The report says that although tests are not designed for people with a previously good general health, but it seems that many customers feel satisfied once their minds are put at rest.

The general health assessment examines many areas, for example the heart and lungs with tests on blood pressure and pulse measurement, an electrocardiogram, a general lung function examination which gives an overall cardiovascular risk assessment score, telling the patient how likely they are to become subject to conditions such as heart disease. Other tests include obesity indicators like body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and a dietary assessment which, if dangerous levels are detected early, could prevent illnesses like diabetes and some cancers. Bowel cancer is screened for if a patient is over the age of 45 and hearing and sight are also tested, amongst other areas. Around a third of people with private health insurance who undergo an assessment discover a condition or illness that they were not previously aware of, meaning that they can get the care and treatment they need which may prevent it becoming life threatening or any worse than it should be.

Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, Medical Director at BUPA, told the Health Insurance and Protection Magazine that medical assessments “provide people with plenty of time with a doctor to talk through test results and health concerns and discuss how to make positive lifestyle changes – in fact, three quarters of then actually do so. The role of a health assessment should be to help individuals feel positive about their health – not to make them worry about being ill.”

Increasing numbers of people are deciding to take advantage of the freedom of their health insurance policies and travel abroad to receive their treatment: to destinations such as Hungary, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. India is the latest country to have success in this market with the combination of a very high quality medical service and low cost treatments. An average heart bypass operation would cost around £10,000 in the UK, over three times as much as the same treatment in India. Similarly, a £45,000 heart valve replacement operation in the UK is over 11 times higher than the £4,000 Indian cost.

A Planning Commission report published in India at the end of March claims that over 150,000 people travelled to the country in 2002 alone, bringing in around £151 million for the health industry. Since then, that number has gone up around 25% each year meaning that around £1 billion of earnings is expected by 2012. The report, prepared by member Anwarul Hoda, says: "The hospitals established by private corporate players are world class. They not only have the latest medical technologies, but also the services of Indian doctors and nurses with high degree of proficiency. The hospitals are completely equipped, upmarket and proficient and can measure up or even outshine any hospital in the West."

Some private health insurers, like Freedom Medical Insurance, offer their customers the choice of whether they would like to receive their treatment in a NHS or private hospital as well the option to travel abroad. So with the quality of foreign facilities rivalling health centres here in the UK, it is likely that more health insurance providers will follow suit to give people access to the many advantages of receiving treatment overseas. The Indian Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss told the Times of India, “India boasts of the best private-owned hospitals. When it comes to becoming a doctor, India also has some of the stringest criteria. Language is another plus factor — English is widely spoken and most importantly, there are no waiting lists."

Health & Medical Insurance are increasingly being taken up within the UK but, as a quality Health & Medical Insurer, Freedom customer service representatives find that there are some questions that arise repeatedly from our potential clients.

A health insurance policy is a contract that is created between the medical insurer and the client or a group (like a company). Within this contract is the promise by the health insurer to provide specified health insurance at an agreed price - the premium that the client pays. With Freedom policies, the health insurance premium can be paid either in full or in installments, but not all insurance providers operate in this way.

As with any contract, the insurer has to provide information about exclusions and the terms and conditions of insurance. The client (or insuree) provides information about their prior health either at the time of taking out the policy or, as in the case of Freedom Insurance, in the event of a claim. The terms and conditions of the medical insurance policy will probably exclude chronic (long term) existing conditions and specify that conditions reoccurring within a specified time before the policy will not be covered. For instance, if you suffer from recurring condition such as asthma, diabetes or eczema these would not be covered under a health policy. However, an acute condition such as a hernia which had been corrected and the person had been symptom free for a period of time (i.e. 2 years / 5 years, dependent upon the policy) then a different hernia formed, this could be covered. This is why it is so important for people to read the policy carefully and to ask questions of the insurer to ensure that they understand fully what they are and are not covered for.

Upon approval of claim, Health / Medical insurance provides either a direct payment to the claimant or to the hospital. With private health insurance from Freedom, payment is made directly to the client upon approval of inpatient claim, to spend on treatment in the UK or abroad.

The costs and the range of protection provided by health insurance varies from company to company and varies based upon the type of policy taken out, which is why it is important to read what is covered carefully and speak to an advisor from the company for further advice.

Want to know how much health insurance costs? Get an instant online quotation for private health insurance from Freedom and learn how little you have to pay for good quality cover.

Women with breast cancer have faced staggering travel insurance premiums for years, often leaving them unable to take a well-earned break or forcing them to travel without insurance.

Every year, over 44,600 women are diagnosed with the condition in the UK and on average, one in nine women will develop the disease at some point in their lives, say breastcancercare.

But insurance companies often charge massive premiums for sufferers wishing to travel abroad and, according to Macmillan Cancer Support, many women also feel the insurers ask insensitive questions when calculating their premium.

However, a new travel policy from Equity Insurance, called insurepink could mean an end to crippling travel costs for sufferers. It has been developed by Fiona MacRae, 45, a woman with a first-hand experience of living with the cancer and promises to be more understanding than the main insurers.

Mainstream premiums are often high as insurers classify cancer patients as high risk. They consider pre-exisiting medical conditions as evidence that a claim for medical care will be more likely when travelling.

But insurepink promises to reflect the true risks of holiday travel, not the perceived risk of travelling with a severe condition.

Insurepink are also targeting people who do not have the condition but want to support the cause and will be donating £1 to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every travel policy sold and £10 for every car or home insurance policy sold before October 1st 2008.

Ms MacRae, told the Times she designed the new policy after being quoted a premium of more than than £300 to cover a week’s holiday in France with her family, months after receiving treatment. She said: “Even if you have been out of treatment for five years, you can still get whacked on premiums. They say that cancer is high risk for travel insurance but it is not really, not like life cover. You are just going on holiday.”

“At the moment, insurers have a broad-brush approach. But cancer is an umbrella term for 200 diseases that all react differently. Insurers need to assess risk more specifically, and price accordingly.”

Ms MacRae also believes that the questions mainstream insurers ask are not appropriate for accurately determining a person’s risk. For example, most insurers will ask how many times a person has visited the doctor in the past year to determine how likely they are to need medical attention whilst travelling.

“Of course they have been to the doctor,” she told the Times. “Going to the doctor a lot could mean they are less likely to need care on holiday, because they are actively being looked after.” Insurepink has dropped questions that it believes are unhelpful in determining risk and has introduced new ones based on a patients medication.

The Equity Insurance Group is also gathering more statistical data to develop policies for sufferers of other cancers, such as men with prostate cancer. Neil Utley, the group’s chief executive, told the Times: “We are investigating areas of the market poorly served by fair pricing.”

According to Jonathan French, from the Association of British Insurers, the insurance industry as a whole is trying to improve cover for patients with preexisiting medical conditions. In an interview with the Times he said: “When applying for travel insurance, people are obliged to disclose preexisting conditions, or the policy is invalid. We are trying to make things better... but it is important to note that people can get cover. There are plenty of specialist providers. The difficulty has been people not knowing their options.”

He added that cancer charities, such as Macmillan Cancer Support, often have information about which insurers specialise in cover for cancer patients.

For more information on breast cancer, visit: www.insurepink.co.uk.

Medical insurance can cover breast cancer and other cancers, subject to the usual medical policy exclusions - such as if the condition was pre-existing or subject to a qualifying period. With so much controvosy about the postcode lottery when it comes to breast and other cancer treatments, many individuals are turning to private medical insurance to ensure that they are covered in the unfortunate circumstance of succumbing the disease.

What happens when you have had a serious medical condition? What happens if you have suffered from a condition for years? Or several years ago? Can you get private health insurance? These are questions that are frequently asked of health insurance companies. The simple answer is 'yes', but with conditions.

If you have a history of a serious illness then there is the possibility of a recurrence of this condition. It is probably that private medical insurance companies will not insure you against this particular condition but it is likely that they will still provide health insurance for you. How can they do this?

There are two main types of underwriting for a Freedom Health Insurance Policy:

Moratorium: this is cover for the cost of treatment of acute conditions (disease, illness or injuries that are likely to respons quickly to treatment) which arise after the start of the policy. A Moratorium policy excludes any conditions for which medication has been received, advise or treatment given or any symptons experienced whether the condition has been diagnosed or not in the five years before the start of the cover. These are known a 'pre-existing conditions'. Related conditions will also not be covered. However, if the policy holder has not had any symptoms, treatment, medication or advice for a pre-existing condition or any related condition for a continuous period of two years after the start date of your policy for a particular condition, the condition will become eligible for cover under the start of your Freedom Healthnet Insurance Policy.

Full Medical Underwriting: this is the assessment of the health risk based upon the detailed medical history questionnaire from which the terms and conditions of our acceptance of the application are decided and applied to the Policy at the commencement date. It clearly states what would not be covered in the event of a claim.

Should you tell your medical insurance company about any prior treatment or conditions? If you would like to be fully informed about what medical treatment you would be entitled to and what you would not be covered for, then yes. If you take out a Moratorium policy, you do not need to disclose prior conditions but in the event of a claim you should be aware that only 'new conditions' would be covered and not those connected with a prior condition (see above).

Should you still get cover for private medical insurance if you have had a chronic illness or pre-existing condition? We believe, yes. For conditions such as asthma and diabetes, the NHS is designed to provide good care and treatment. Your private health insurance would still cover you for conditions not related to your pre-existing condition and so you could take advantage of the speed, ease and efficiency of private health treatment in the event of illness or injury.

Want to understand the insurance words and phrases? Get full definitions and understand insurance language from our glossary of medical insurance terms.

Freedom Healthnet was recently noted in The Independent as having the most competitively priced comprehensive health insurance policy with their Platinum policy. Written within the article entitled Is private health cover really worth the cost? the newspaper copy showed a table The price of good healthcare which directly compared PHC, PruHealth and Freedom in the comprehensive policy stakes. Freedom's comprehensive platinum health insurance policy came out as the most competitively priced in The Independent's example at a full £16 cheaper per month than PruHealth for a comparable policy.
The platinum medical insurance policy is one of 4 key policies which Freedom offer. The platinum is actually our mid-range policy, with our Diamond and Diamond Plus offering increased levels of cover and the Gold policy offering a basic level of cover at an even cheaper premium.

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